Middle Park House by Wellard Architects

A dilapidated Victoria-era terrace in Melbourne’s bayside suburb of Middle Park has been transformed by Wellard Architects into light-filled family home that respects its heritage while accommodating contemporary living.

Prior renovations had left the home clad in asbestos faux block tiles, which, when removed, revealed original blockwork and timber weatherboards – some of which were still intact. For the redesign, Wellard Architects referred to historic photographs to restore the front to its original condition, reinstating the verandah and latticework. Working with the original cladding, the team recreated and strengthened the weatherboards on the street-facing facade, finishing them in a fresh white.

A full-width, open-plan living, kitchen and dining area anchors the rear, while additional bedrooms and a roof terrace are located on a newly built upper level.

Working within the home’s tight footprint, the architect devised a new floor plan that positions the main bedroom and combined sitting room and home office at the front of the ground level. A full-width, open-plan living, kitchen and dining area anchors the rear, while additional bedrooms and a roof terrace are located on a newly built upper level.

Three steps signal the transition from the original hallway down to the living area, which opens onto a new, landscaped courtyard via large cavity sliding doors, creating an uninhibited flow to the outdoors and doubling the perceived space. Warm timber cabinetry lines the back wall, while the kitchen is clad in white with a finely veined, honed granite island and splashback – the tones of which are echoed across the space in an off-form concrete mantel. The wide ledge of a square picture window creates an exterior window seat, further blurring the boundary between indoors and out.

In contrast to the heritage character of the front, the rear embraces a contemporary aesthetic, clad in a folded metal facade that also acts as a screen for the upstairs bedrooms.

In contrast to the heritage character of the front, the rear embraces a contemporary aesthetic, clad in a folded metal facade that also acts as a screen for the upstairs bedrooms. This design allows for views of the tree canopy and tiled rooftops of neighbouring homes while still maintaining privacy. Inside the children’s bedrooms, the form of this folded facade is playfully expressed as whimsical shelving and seating nooks.

Below, a pedestrian entrance from the street leads to a purpose-built storage area for bikes and other household equipment, which is accessible via the courtyard. While its street-facing form nods to the original architecture, the redesign balances modern functionality with an aesthetic that feels both contemporary and timeless.

Architecture and interior design by Wellard Architects. Build by Baker Building Group. Landscape design by Julie Crowe.